Funeral program printing usually means a single 8.5 x 11 in sheet folded in half to 5.5 x 8.5 in, which gives four pages: a cover with a photo, the order of service, the obituary, and a back page for a poem, prayer or thanks. At typical market prices checked October 2026, 100 programs cost about $80 to $135 to print from a finished file, and about $160 to $260 when layout and photos are included.
Most families put a program together in a few days, often while arranging everything else. This guide covers what to include, which size to choose, how to get a good photo from a phone, and how much time to allow, so the printing is one less thing to worry about.
What goes in a funeral program?
A program needs the full name, the dates of birth and death, and the order of service. Everything else is a family's choice. A typical four-page program is arranged like this:
- Front cover: full name, a photograph, dates of birth and death, and the date, time and place of the service.
- Inside left: the order of service, including the officiant, music, readings and the names of readers, the eulogy and the committal.
- Inside right: the obituary or a short life story, with surviving family if you wish to list them.
- Back cover: a poem, prayer or scripture, pallbearers, an acknowledgment from the family, and details of the burial, interment or repast.
- Optional: the funeral home's name, a photo collage on an extra page, and a note about memorial donations.
What size is a funeral program?
The most common size is 8.5 x 11 in folded to 5.5 x 8.5 in. Larger folds give more room for photos and bigger type, which helps older guests read the order of service in a dim chapel.
| Format | Flat sheet | Folded size | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Letter bifold | 8.5 x 11 in | 5.5 x 8.5 in | Four pages; the standard choice for most services |
| Legal bifold | 8.5 x 14 in | 7 x 8.5 in | Four taller pages with more room for an obituary |
| Tabloid bifold | 11 x 17 in | 8.5 x 11 in | Four large pages, bigger photos and larger type |
| Tri-fold | 8.5 x 11 in | 3.67 x 8.5 in | Six narrow panels for a short service |
| Eight-page booklet | Two sheets nested and stapled on the fold | 5.5 x 8.5 or 8.5 x 11 in | Long services, hymn words, photo collages |
| Memorial card | Single card | Wallet size | A photo and a prayer kept as a keepsake |
An eight-page program is saddle stitched, meaning stapled through the fold. Our binding guide explains how page counts work, since a stapled booklet always has a page count divisible by four.
What paper should a funeral program be printed on?
A 100 lb text sheet in a silk or matte finish suits most programs: it folds cleanly, holds photographs well and does not throw glare under chapel lighting. Gloss makes photos richer but reflects light. For a firmer program that stands up on a table, move to an 80 lb cover stock. White is the usual choice; ivory or cream reads as traditional and softens color photographs slightly. Choose an uncoated sheet if guests will write on the program. Our paper weight guide explains what text and cover weights mean.
How much does it cost to print funeral programs?
Expect roughly 80 cents to $1.35 a program for printing alone at 100 copies, and more when someone else lays out the program and places the photos.
| Quantity | Printing only | With layout and photos |
|---|---|---|
| 50 programs | from about $57 | about $125 to $220 |
| 100 programs | about $82 to $135 | about $160 to $260 |
| 200 programs | from about $106 | about $280 to $380 |
Prices shown are typical market prices for standard options, based on published prices from national print retailers and online printers, checked October 2026. They are a guide, not a quote. Prices are subject to change and do change with quantity, paper, finishing and turnaround, so contact us for an updated quote.
These ranges are based on published prices at online printers, retail copy centers and funeral program services, including 4over4's funeral program page and a local newspaper's program service that includes layout and up to five photos. The lowest printing-only figures are starting configurations printed on one side, with shipping extra and standard turnaround. A folded program printed on both sides, rush production or an extra page each add to the price.
What moves the price:
- Quantity: setup is paid once, so the cost per program falls as the run grows.
- Sheet size: an 11 x 17 in program costs more per copy than an 8.5 x 11 in one.
- Pages: an eight-page booklet uses two sheets and needs stapling.
- Design: a finished, print-ready file costs less than a program built from your text and photos.
- Paper: cover stock costs more than text weight.
- Turnaround: rush work and courier delivery to the funeral home add cost.
How quickly can funeral programs be printed?
Standard turnaround is two to three business days from proof approval, and rush is 24 to 48 hours on most products. In practice the time that runs short is rarely the printing. It is gathering photos, settling the order of service with the officiant and getting the family's approval on the text. Call as soon as you have the date of the service and we will tell you plainly whether that date is achievable. Finished programs can go by free delivery anywhere in Manhattan, and a same-day courier is available, so nobody has to leave the family to collect a box. Our guide to rush printing in Manhattan explains what fits into a short schedule.
Can I use a photo from my phone?
Yes, as long as you send the original photo file rather than a copy. Pictures sent through messaging apps, saved from social media or taken as screenshots are reduced in size and often print soft. Email the original at full or actual size, or share it from your photo library.
For a sharp print, a photo needs about 300 pixels for every inch it will be printed. A cover photo 4 x 5 in on the page needs about 1,200 x 1,500 pixels, which a recent phone photo easily exceeds. For an older printed photograph, scan it at 600 dpi rather than photographing it at an angle under a lamp. Our free file check flags any image that is too small before it prints, so there is time to find a better copy.
Can I print a funeral program from a Canva template?
Yes. Many families build the program in Canva or Word. From Canva, download the file as PDF Print with crop marks and bleed. From Word, save as PDF so the layout does not shift on another computer. Check that the inside pages read in the right order when folded, which is easiest by printing one copy at home and folding it. Our guide to printing from Canva has the export settings, and design help is available if you would rather we lay out the program from your text and photos.
How many funeral programs should I print?
Print for the expected attendance, then add extra copies for the family to keep and to send to relatives who cannot attend. Ask the funeral home or place of worship how many people the room holds and how many attended similar services there. Adding copies to the first run costs far less per program than a short reprint afterwards.
Proofread every name, date and title twice, once for spelling and once for facts. The most common mistakes on programs are a misspelled middle name, a date of birth with the digits swapped, a reader listed under a nickname, and a hymn title copied from memory. Ask two family members who did not write the text to read the proof slowly, out loud, against a birth certificate or the funeral home's details. It is the one step that cannot be fixed once the programs are handed out.
Funeral program questions
How much does it cost to print 100 funeral programs?
About $82 to $135 for printing only, and about $160 to $260 with layout and photo placement included, at typical market prices checked October 2026. These are subject to change; ask us for a current quote.
How long does it take to print funeral programs?
Standard turnaround is two to three business days from proof approval, and rush is 24 to 48 hours on most products. Send the finished file and approve the proof as early as you can.
What is the best paper for funeral programs?
A 100 lb silk or matte text sheet suits most programs, because it folds well and photos do not glare. Use an 80 lb cover stock for a firmer program, and uncoated paper if guests will write on it.
What size is a standard funeral program?
8.5 x 11 in folded in half to 5.5 x 8.5 in, giving four pages. An 11 x 17 in sheet folded to 8.5 x 11 in gives larger photos and type.
Can Staples or FedEx Office print funeral programs?
Yes, chain copy centers print folded programs from a finished file. A print shop adds a check of the file and photos, a wider choice of paper, and delivery to the funeral home.
We print funeral and memorial programs and memorial cards with photos, order of service and tributes. Call (888) 877-4440 or upload your file on the contact page, and we will answer within two business hours during shop hours with a quote and a realistic date.
Need this printed? We are at 40 Wall Street, and we deliver free anywhere in Manhattan.